“It’s really a culmination of over a year’s worth of work in pulling people together around issues and opportunities on the Blackfoot, Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers as they come through the Missoula Valley,” said Arnold. “It’s a culmination, but it’s also a kickoff or open house for the upcoming years of us working together as community members working for these opportunities on these area rivers.”

Arnold said the group is rapidly expanding to include many other organizations.

“Very quickly as we’re pulling partners together, we’re trying to broaden the diversity of our group to include folks from Mountain Line, the Downtown Missoula Partnership, the Trailhead, Park and Trail and Open Land with Missoula County, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Strongwater Surf and the University of Montana,” he said. “As we’re getting more and more members participating, we’re getting a real balance between those natural resource related issues, but also access to the river for the public and sustainable management issues.”

The open house is set for this Thursday from 5:30-7:30 at Conflux Brewing with a short presentation from group members and Mayor John Engen, Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick and Director of the Montana Governor’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, Rachel VandeVoort.